Lady Revealed (23 page)

“Because you would rather dance?”

“Because it is who I am,” she said as she came to her feet. “It is unfair for anyone to ask me to change who I am because my father and brother are titled men.”

“You haven’t even given your family a chance. You haven’t given me a chance. Have one Season and if you hate it so much then return to dancing.”

“I haven’t danced for a year, Lord Acker, with the exception of that one performance. I can’t wait that long to return or it will be too late.”

“So you intend to continue knocking on the doors throughout Covent Garden until someone hires you?” He was practically yelling at her, yet she held her ground. He didn’t understand. None of them understood.

“By then word will be out that you are not Juliette Mirabelle, as everyone believed, but Lady Julia Trent. Do you think you will be hired to dance then?”

Juliette stumbled back. It never occurred to her she would be denied a chance to be a ballerina because of who she happened to be related to. “Bentley has so much power?”

“Bentley wouldn’t have to do anything. It is simply the way of things.”

The stubborn streak rose within her. Nobody was going to tell her what she could or could not do. “Then I will return to Milan.”

“You would take your sisters back to Milan and deny them a chance to know how different their lives could be now?”

“They would not have to go with me,” Juliette insisted.

“Do you really think they would let you return on your own?” he pointed out. “They know more of Milan than they do London, so of course they would follow you.”

“I suspect Hélène would, but not because of me.”

“Why else?” he demanded.

“She is an actress and does not want to give that up any more than I wish to cease dancing.”

“Isn’t that rather unfair to them, and to you?” He placed his hands on her upper arms. Juliette suspected he wished to shake some sense into her, but he was gentle. “You aren’t even giving your family, Society, London or me a chance,” he said once again.

She knew what he said was true, but could she risk waiting longer to dance to see if she could fit into his world?

No, it was impossible.

“I did give you a chance, Lord Acker.”

“When? Not since you have been in London. Each time we met you ran out before I could explain my actions.”

She chuckled. “There is nothing to explain. In Milan you wished to make me your mistress.”

“That is not true,” he practically yelled and thrust his fingers through his hair.

Juliette simply hitched an eyebrow, challenging him to deny the fact.

Acker took a deep breath and focused on her. “I wanted you in Milan, I will not deny that, but I also thought I was to marry another.”

“As you have told me. Yet, you asked me to travel back to England without the benefit of marriage. I am assuming you didn’t want us to be simply friends.”

“Of course not!”

“Then, you wished to make me your mistress.”

He turned from her and paced. “I don’t know what I wanted, Juliette. I knew I wanted you but I barely knew you. What if we married and ended up hating one another. We would be stuck together for life, being miserable. But, I couldn’t leave you either. I needed to take you with me so I could sort out my feelings.”

It really didn’t matter his reasons. He wanted her as his lover regardless of what the future may hold. He would have never made the suggestion to a lady.

“When I saw you in London I tried to explain but you kept running off.”

“I already suspected what you would say and I was correct.”

“No, you are not.” He insisted. “I was coming to terms with my wife being a ballerina and if I could ask her to give it up for me.”

“I would not have,”

“I realize that now.”

“So, why ask me to marry you now? Nothing has changed,” she pointed out.

“Everything has changed!” he cried. “You are a lady and whether you like it or not, you will not be able to dance in London.”

He had said it. She now had confirmation, though she had hoped she was wrong. “You are asking me to marry you because now I am good enough. Before I wasn’t.”

“That is not true,” he argued.

“Then why didn’t you ask before you knew I was a lady.”

“You never gave me a chance,” he yelled in frustration.

Perhaps she hadn’t but it didn’t matter. As much as she wished to be with Acker, if he could not accept that she would continue with the ballet there was no future for them.

“I can’t give up my dreams, my passion,” she said quietly.

“Why can’t you open yourself to other opportunities?”

“We are of different worlds, it will never work.” With that Juliette turned her back on him and walked toward the path they had entered from. She hoped she remembered the way. It would be deuced embarrassing to get lost and need him to rescue her after walking away.

“Juliette, don’t leave.”

She looked over her shoulder and sadly smiled. “There is nothing else to say.”

“But I love you. Does that mean nothing?”

Her heart constricted. Those are the very words she longed to hear from his lips but it was too late. Much too late. Besides, he could not accept her for who she was. “I love you too, but we will never suit.”

Juliette didn’t wait for his response but ran through the maze. She had to get away before she became a watering pot and couldn’t see where she was going.

*

Acker and Bentley found her in the ballroom, dancing to a song only she could hear. She loved him but refused to marry him and he had told Bentley as much. Her older brother meant to speak with her, or in his words, talk some sense into her. Acker had warned that it would probably do no good, but he was also willing to try anything to get Juliette to marry him.

He stood in the doorway and simply watched, captured by her beauty. There was peace in her face and she was lost in a place of her own making. Her family wished to take this from her. Deny who she is. He had suggested the same.

“Juliette doesn’t need to dance any longer so why does she continue to do so?” Bentley asked.

Acker continued to watch. He was as captivated as he had been the first time he saw her and then he realized what she had been insisting upon all along. It was in her face and in her movements but until this moment, Acker had not truly understood the depth of her words. Dancing was where she was at peace; it was her passion and her love.

He turned to Bentley. “You are wrong. Juliette needs to dance.” Without the ballet, Juliette would not be, well, Juliette.

Bentley frowned at him but continued to watch his sister. Maybe someday Bentley would understand.

“That is beautiful,” Leigh clapped.

Acker hadn’t even noticed Eleanor’s younger sister was in the room.

“Please say you will teach me,” Leigh begged.

Juliette laughed. “Of course. I promised I would.” She walked across the room and opened a small bag from which she withdrew the pairs of dancing slippers. Try these on to see if any fit. Leigh selected a pair and slipped them on her feet.

“They are perfect.” The girl grinned and stood. “What do we do first?”

“I will show you the feet positions and stretches.” Juliette glanced around the room. “We need a barre. I’ll ask someone about placing one in a room later.”

Leigh’s feet moved to the first position, heel to heel, and much straighter than Acker had been able to accomplish that long ago afternoon in Milan. Juliette then showed her the different ways to place her feet before addressing her arm movements.

In that moment, Acker knew what he must do. He grabbed Bentley’s arm and dragged him out to the hall and into a private room.

“What is it?” he demanded.

“Say nothing to Juliette.”

“You’ve changed your mind?” Bentley asked in confusion.

Acker couldn’t help grinning. “No. I am more convinced than ever. But, I need to convince her.”

“And how do you suppose to do that?”

“I am not telling you, or anyone else. But, I need to be gone for a short while. There are some things I need to attend to. When I am ready, I will send a note to have Juliette brought to London.”

Bentley raised a skeptical brow.

“Trust me.”

Juliette huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She wished Jordan and Audrey would explain what they were about, but both remained mum. After a month of wandering around the Bentley Manor they had insisted she come to London with them.

“I wasn’t moping,” she said as the carriage rumbled along the streets of London. Well, she assumed they were still in London. After leaving the townhouse, Audrey had tied a dark scarf around her head so she couldn’t see, so as not to ruin the surprise.

“Yes, you were,” Jordan countered.

Perhaps she had been. Acker had left after their argument without even saying goodbye. Of course, she had said as much when she stormed out of the maze. Had she known it was the last time she would see him she may have done things a bit differently.

No she wouldn’t have. She had let her stubbornness get in the way once again and it never worked out well when she let that happen.

“I am concerned about Maman,” Juliette insisted, as if that explained her melancholy state after Acker had left.

“I am sure you are,” Jordan agreed. “However, I couldn’t help but notice a shift in your temperament after a certain gentleman had left the manor.”

Heat flooded into her cheeks but she had said nothing.

“I am sure that after a few days in London everything will seem brighter,” Audrey said cheerfully from the other side of the carriage.

“They would be immensely brighter if you would remove this blindfold,” Juliette grumbled.

“But that would ruin all of the fun and we so want to cheer you up,” Audrey insisted.

Jordan chuckled and Juliette was dying to know what they were about. “What about Maman? What if she needs me?” That had been her argument from the moment Audrey approached her about returning to London for a few days. She and Jordan were to check on their property and the house they were building at the stud farm they owned outside of Oxford. The family had practically forced her into the carriage to get her to go to London.

“Your mother will be fine without you for a sennight, but if something were to happen, Bentley knows where to find us.”

At least they weren’t going to be gone much longer. They left the estate three days ago and only two days remained before they would begin their journey back. Juliette prayed her mother’s health held during the time she was away.

The carriage slowed and rolled to a stop. Thank goodness. Juliette could only hope they reached their destination and not delayed in traffic.

There was shifting and the carriage rocked. She assumed Jordan had rose from his seat and moved toward the door.

“You stay right here and we will assist you out of the carriage,” Audrey advised her.

“Where are we?” Juliette demanded, though it sounded more like a whine, for which she hated herself. Had she really been moping about? Had she been whining as well? No wonder her family had taken drastic measures to remove her from the country. She had never behaved like this before. What had gotten into her?

Two hands clasped hers. “Now follow me out and Jordan will assist you to the ground.”

Juliette stood, though she had to bend to keep from striking her head on the roof of the carriage and let Audrey slowly pull her toward the entrance. She slid her foot forward and felt for the edge of the door so she would know where to step. Before she could maneuver herself down to the step two strong hands grasped her around the waist and plucked her from the carriage, setting her on the walk.

“Jordan, I could have exited on my own,” she chastised.

Jordan didn’t speak but the hands that had held her waist moved to her shoulders and gently turned her to face the opposite direction. Behind her she heard the carriage door click and by the sound of the hooves and wheels on the cobblestones, the carriage moved away.

“Wait? Why is the carriage leaving?” Panic rose. They didn’t just leave her here, did they? And, why weren’t either Jordan or Audrey speaking.

The hands left her shoulders and now fidgeted with the tie at the back of her head. Thank goodness the blindfold was going to be removed. At least then she could see where she was, and who was still with her.

“Close your eyes.”

Her heartbeat increased. “Lord Acker?”

He kissed her cheek and Juliet’s warmed. Why would he do something in a public area? Or, she assumed they were in public because sounds of people and carriages surrounded her. And, where was Jordan and why hadn’t he objected to the familiarity?

“Close your eyes and I will remove the blindfold.”

Juliette nodded and did as he asked. Excitement coursed through her veins.

The scarf fell away and even though her eyelids remained down some light penetrated proving she was still outside.

“Now, very slowly open your eyes.”

She did so and viewed a door. She glanced up and realized she was standing in front of a building of sorts. She looked around and recognized the area. She was in Covent Garden and not far from The Adelphi Theatre. “I don’t understand.” She had walked past this building many times, but it had been abandoned and closed. She could never determine if it had been some type of store or a warehouse, or sets of rooms where people once lived. Why were they here now?

“Look closer.”

She could hear a grin in his voice and studied the building once again. Her breath caught when she read the large sign above the door “Mirabelle Scuola di Danza”.

“Come on.” Acker grasped her hand and drew her to the door. “Let me show you the inside.”

Juliette was too stunned to say anything and let him pull her along.

They took two steps up and Acker opened the door and placed a hand at the small of her back and ushered her inside.

It was an open room devoid of any furniture and the room she stood in was as large as some of the assembly rooms she had once been in. Two windows looked out onto the street. To the side was a wide set of stairs leading to the upper floors.

Acker pulled her hand and led her to the back of the building and ushered her through the door. It too was empty except for a desk and chair. Smaller windows looked out onto a back alley. “I thought you could run the school from in here or it could be storage as well. We could also build a larger and nice room toward the front of the building for you to work in, when you aren’t teaching.”

She gapped at him. This was to be her school?

“Come on.” He tugged at her hand and led her to the stairs. They were sturdy and sound and Acker practically raced up them in his excitement. “There are two large rooms on this floor and two more above. I thought you could use them for classes. Since there are four rooms above, you could hire teachers to help you, as you gained more students.”

Juliette glanced in each room he took her to. They were the right size and length, the same as she had used in Milan. On each floor one room had windows overlooking the street and across the hall the other looked into the alley. She walked to the center of one room and slowly turned. Mirrors could be placed on one wall, along with barres. The wood floor was sound and not nearly as scarred or splinter-ridden as she used in Milan. The vision of children, learning the art of ballet filled her head and a smile pulled at her lips. She was going to have her own school it was almost as good as dancing on a stage.

“There is more,” Acker said and pulled her back down the hall and stairs. He didn’t stop until they reached the main level again. This area could be made into two or three rooms if she wished. The orchestra could practice here so they could be used when it was time to add music to the choreography.

Juliette studied the room. He said there was more, yet she didn’t see anything else. Was there a cellar of sorts?

“It is behind the building,” he explained and began walking in that direction. They stepped outside and crossed the alley onto a small lawn. Flowers of several varieties bloomed in small beds. There was a shaded seating area and a stone path leading to the back of the three-story house. Acker walked along the side and they emerged at the front. Did he know the person who resided here?

Instead of knocking on the front door, he opened and entered. Juliette glanced to the left and the right, where reception rooms were usually located, and they were void of any furniture.

“I purchased the house with the building,” Acker explained. “The building had once been a lending library but business declined and he finally had to close. The family had lived in this house. Once the children grew and were gone and he became a widower, the man simply wanted to sell everything.”

Certainly Acker wasn’t giving her a house, was he? This was really all too much. She couldn’t afford to run a school and have a house. What had it cost him and how long would it take to pay him back. Oh, she wished he would have asked first.

Anxiety built as the responsibility of owing so much settled upon her.

Acker escorted her through the different rooms, all empty and into a kitchen before leading her upstairs. As with the main floor, the rooms on the first floor were empty, but the rooms were larger. There were three parlors or sitting rooms and a library. She only knew it was a library because of the shelves blanketing one wall, though they were as empty as the rest of the house.

“I don’t understand,” she finally said, trying to take it all in and make sense of this. Was this really to be a school of dance? Her school of dance?

He simply grinned at her. “You will see.” Taking her hand he led her up another flight of stairs to the second floor. This one held the bedchambers. Or, in any normal house would have had beds, dressers, armoires and such, but as with the other rooms, they were completely empty, until they entered the one at the end of the hall. This room was fully furnished, with draperies of pale green and a coverlet on the bed to match. The furniture was a light cherry wood. Why would there be one furnished room?

Juliette turned to him. “I don’t understand,” she repeated.

“I have been a fool,” Acker announced. “My suggesting you give up dancing, even for a little while is like asking you to stop breathing.”

With those words Juliette began to melt. His eyes were so warm and full of love, and his voice so tender. “A school.”

“Not just any school,” he grinned. “Your school.”

Her own school. He had confirmed it with those words. A part of her had not yet come to terms with what she was being shown until now. She never dreamed of owning one herself, simply teaching if necessary.

“And the bedchamber?”

“I assumed you would wish to supervise the renovations or perhaps after a long day, have a place to rest.”

This was to be her room? “I would live here?” Did that mean he wasn’t interested in marrying her any longer but still choose to give her this wonderful gift.

“I should hope not!” he choked out. “I still wish to marry you, and if you agree, then I would prefer you reside, and especially sleep, in our home.”

“But it is so big,” she gestured.

“It is far more than you need but I had to purchase the house if I wanted the building.”

He could probably sell it if he wished. This was all too much.

“I also thought that perhaps your sisters might wish to have a place to live on their own.”

Juliette assumed they would all be forced to live with Bentley since he had seemed to take over their lives in such a short bit of time. Though he was considerate and understanding, he also wished them to take their place in society. Something neither Juliette nor her sisters were comfortable with.

“He cannot force them to live with him and if they choose to remain as independent as they have all of their lives, they can take up residence here and you would be able to see them often.”

The house would be perfect for Genviève and Hélène. They could remain a family, just the three of them, if they wished.

“Even if they choose to remain with Bentley,” Acker continued. “They could still escape here if Bentley became overbearing, which he has a tendency to do.” He laughed.

It was all too much and Juliette didn’t know what to say.

“Juliette Mirabelle, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

There was such sincerely in his eyes, and love. Juliette wanted to blurt out that “yes, I will marry you,” These past weeks, after he had been gone with no word made her realize how much she did love and need him. He was her comfort and strength and friend. But, did he still wish her to give up the stage? Was this his way of offering a way for her to continue dancing without performing?

“What if I were to continue to perform?”

He shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“I know you said I may not be given an opportunity because of who I am, or when people learn who I am, but if I am, would you deny me the chance.”

A smile pulled at his lips and Juliette had hope that he had changed his mind and then she could have everything.

“My mother pointed out what a fool I had been.”

Did that mean he would let her dance?

“Even though a lady taking part in any type of production was unheard of and may cause all kinds of gossip, she also noted that you would be a huge draw to the theater.”

Juliette frowned. “I don’t understand.”